We will dedicate our new Black Lives Matter banner at 6 p.m. Oct 16. It will hang for the first time on our historic building at 42nd and Ingersoll in Des Moines as a sign of our desire to be in solidarity with our African-American neighbors.

Why are we doing this? Because we believe that Black lives matter. At Plymouth, our faith teaches us that all people bear the image of God; that all people deserve dignity and equal treatment. But here in Des Moines, it too often seems that some lives matter more than others. The poverty rate for our African-American neighbors is significantly higher than it is for people of other races. African-Americans are arrested nearly 10 times as often as people of other races in Iowa.

And these outcomes are no accident. They result from systemic racism — from the racist assumptions and practices that are woven into our social fabric, including government, churches, schools and other institutions. If we will ever address systemic racism, we first have to name it and stand with those who suffer it. We hope this banner can serve as one small step in that direction.

From its beginning, Plymouth Church has been deeply engaged in work to make our society fairer and more just. We were founded in 1857 as an abolitionist congregation in the city of Des Moines. Throughout the last 160 years, we have worked to make this community a better place for all of its residents. Our opposition to racism is in keeping with this long legacy.

And I realize that we risk being misunderstood. So let me be clear: we do not intend to align with any political organization; we simply seek to bring attention to ongoing racial disparities in our community and in our nation. We do not intend to disparage law enforcement; we are grateful for the leadership of local law enforcement in addressing systemic racism. We believe that the urgency of opposing racism outweighs the risk of being misunderstood.

Of course, a banner is not enough. I hope and I pray that the people of Plymouth Church — including their senior minister — will become part of the change we wish to see. We believe that self-examination and confession can lead to real transformation. Even as we hang the banner, our congregation is committing to do the work: developing anti-racism education opportunities for members of the church, reaching out to our community and advocating for the well-being of our Black neighbors.

We know we will not solve racism with a banner. But God knows we need to start somewhere.

The Rev. Matt Mardis-LeCroy is Senior Minister at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines. Contact him at mmardis-lecroy@plymouthchurch.com.